GHNS Illinois Budget (4/28/08)

Monday

Apr 28, 2008 at 12:01 AM

GHNS Illinois Budget (4/28/08)

Here are the top Illinois stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at www.gatehousenewsservice.com. Please check www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news in the evening for changes to story lineup, including breaking news.

If your paper has a story, digest item, opinion piece or standalone photo to share, please e-mail it to Illinois@gatehousemedia.com.

Ethical/Legal call: GateHouse Media will hold a conference call Tuesday with media lawyer Robert A. Bertsche. The call begins at 11 a.m. Eastern and is open to all GateHouse newsroom staffers.
http://www.ghnewsroom.com/news.php?newsid=1208980522

One More Look: Peoria Journal Star Managing Editor John Plevka explains how he recognizes the best work of the week.
http://ghnewsroom.com/news.php?newsid=1209399407

News service downloads: News service download reports are now offered at ghnewsroom.com. For more details, see David Arkin’s blog at http://www.ghnewsroom.com/blogs.php?bid=165

BELVIDERE – The Dodge Caliber and the other two vehicles assembled at the Chrysler plant in Belvidere, the Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot, had their strongest quarter of sales at a time that the auto industry as a whole — and Chrysler in particular — has been struggling to find buyers. By Alex Gary of the Rockford Register Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1611216470

STATE BRIEFS: News from around the state. Will be posted this evening.

SPECIAL SESSIONS: Coverage of a hearing today on the lawsuit over whether the governor has sole authority to set the exact time and date for convening special legislative sessions. By Doug Finke of the State Capitol bureau.

SCHOLARSHIP FUND: State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias announced the establishment of $3.5 million fund for college scholarships, most of them need-based. By Meagan Sexton of the State Capitol bureau.

School cleaning supplies go green

GALESBURG – The Green Cleaning Schools Act, signed into law by Governor Rod Blagojevich on Aug. 13, 2007, mandates all Illinois schools purchase certified-green cleaning products in six categories after May 9. By Michelle Anstett of the Galesburg Register-Mail.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1804947878

Bicycle-friendly law in effect, but penalties aren't clear

ROCKFORD – Drivers, take note: Pass less than 3 feet from a bicyclist and you’re breaking the law. The legislation, which took effect Jan. 1, was fervently supported by groups like the Illinois Bicyclists League and practically sailed through the Legislature. It passed 57-0 in the Senate and 107-8 in the House. By Mike Wiser of the Rockford Register Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x292024208

Search for Stacy: Week in Review

Here’s a look at some of last week’s developments in the Peterson case. By Danya Hooker of Suburban Life Publications.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x170779552

Kane County finds success with alcohol-monitoring bracelets

GENEVA – After having too many drinks one night in December, a St. Charles man slipped his keys into his car’s ignition and didn’t pull to a stop until flashing lights were in his review mirror. But he didn’t end up in a jail cell. Instead, like 145 other Kane County residents, he got a bracelet strapped to his ankle and was stripped of his right to drink for 180 days. By Erin Sauder of Suburban Life Publications. With video.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x883026400

‘Fly-dumping’ leads to citations, aggravation

SPRINGFIELD – The ping-pong table, toilet, air conditioner and cabinet in David Howard’s garage are irritating enough to him. But what really angers him is that the city of Springfield had the gall to ticket him for another item, a mattress. Unlike the other items, which were dumped on Howard’s property just outside his garage, the mattress was dumped in the alley. By Chris Wetterich of the State Journal-Register.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x317104076

Scouts walk Lincoln’s path

SPRINGFIELD – Nearly 1,000 Boy Scouts walked in Abraham Lincoln's footsteps when they took the Lincoln Trail Hike Saturday. By Rhys Saunders of the State Journal-Register.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1838792839

Parolee: Life passes you by when you're in prison

GALESBURG – Parolee Brian Oates was one of three convicts accompanying motivational speaker Carl Cannon of Peoria to his second speech aimed at keeping kids out of prison. Students at Churchill Junior High School have heard one of the ex-prison guard’s presentations before, something he does all across Central Illinois. By Michelle Anstett of the Galesburg Register-Mail.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x292024248

Science has already ruined a number of important things for me, such as my high school GPA and pretty much all of religion, but this past week they really took the taco. It was announced that I really, truly, once and for all, can’t travel back in time.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/opinions/x1838792440

Editorial: Pessimistic about progress in the legislature

The General Assembly returns Tuesday after a brief hiatus. Normally, we would view this as the start of the home stretch of the legislative session, a time when urgent needs get addressed and big plans get their legs.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/opinions/x501039149

Bernard Schoenburg: Public access chief leaving for Pennsylvania

Terry Mutchler, 42, who has been Attorney General Lisa Madigan's public access counselor since late 2004, is moving to her home state of Pennsylvania to become executive director of that state’s new Office of Open Records.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1804947821

ILLINOIS FEATURES
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news

Wigwam project gives exchange students chance to learn more about region, each other

GALESBURG – Fifteen teens from all over the world built a wigwam out of willow branches Saturday in the wetlands at Woodland View Farm. The teens, who are living with area host families through the International Student Exchange program, spent the weekend at the 300-acre centennial farm north of Knoxville to bond with each other and to learn a bit more about the history of the region where they are living. By Jane Carlson of the Galesburg Register-Mail. With video.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x292024269

MIKE NADEL: Best of The Baldest Truth, including the week ahead in the NL Central and the weekend past of the NFL Draft. Will be posted this evening.

CUBS-CARDINALS: Nadel will be writing from this weekend’s Cubs-Cardinals series in St. Louis.

ILLINI: CHAMPAIGN – Illinois middle linebacker J Leman didn't find a home during the NFL draft Sunday, but it took only moments after the seventh and final round to sign a free-agent contract with the Minnesota Vikings. Four other Illini also signed free-agent deals. By John Supinie.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/sports/x1804947539

WITH THE ILLINI: Shortstop Angelena Mexicano is one homer away from tying the single-season Big Ten Conference record. Her story leads the multiu-sport notebook covering Illinois athletics. By John Supinie. Will be posted this evening.

Matt Trowbridge: Bears’ draft pales in comparison to Vikings, Packers

Upgrading at three positions, including its two greatest needs, would have been fantastic for a team coming off its first Super Bowl in 21 years. It’s not enough for an aging 7-9 team that finished third in the NFC North.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/sports/x914619053

What's next, Bartman Day? Legislator wants to honor Favre

SPRINGFIELD – Tom Cross is the ranking Republican in the Illinois House, but he wants to pay tribute to the icon of his team: Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers. By Aaron Chambers of the Rockford Register Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/sports/x1611216488

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